ANCHOR Act

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the ANCHOR Act. The U.S. Academic Research Fleet, the ARF, is made up of an impressive array of marine research assets and even more impressive than this fleet is the invaluable research that it conducts.

This diverse fleet is managed and operated by a diverse group that includes the NSF, the Office of Naval Research, Federal research laboratories, and U.S. universities.

These fleets have unique cyberinfrastructure and networking challenges and vulnerabilities. This bill would require assessment of equipment and personnel costs and time requirements needed to upgrade the fleet and develop a proposal for funding these upgrades.

The House already passed this bill by a voice vote last Congress, and I hope it will do so again. This technological struggle has been a real detriment and had a real impact on these fleets.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsor of this bill as well as Ms. Stevens, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter dated January 30, 2024, titled: ``Institutional Support for U.S. Academic Research Fleet Cyber Infrastructure.''

January 30, 2024.

Institutional Support for U.S. Academic Research Fleet Cyber

Infrastructure

The U.S. Academic Research Fleet (ARF) is critical in the

exploration and understanding of our planet. The ARF consists

of 17 oceangoing research vessels that serve multiple federal

agencies, coordinated under

the auspices of the University-National Oceanographic

Laboratory System (UNOLS). These ships are fundamentally

important to America's global research objectives, and

conduct federally-sponsored basic research addressing urgent

societal issues involving human health and safety, offshore

energy and resources, national security, ocean hazards,

biological and physical ocean processes, and all scientific

endeavors requiring observations at sea.

As directors, deans, and presidents of academic

institutions with students, faculty, and staff that use ARF

oceanographic research vessels we urge Congress to ensure the

ARF has ongoing support to enable satellite communications,

shoreside and shipboard digital infrastructure, and technical

support for the safe, secure, and effective operation of our

research vessels.

As globally-ranging laboratories that operate in the most

remote areas of the world, research vessels face unique

challenges in providing capable networking and require

specialized infrastructure. Scientists and their sensors must

communicate in real-time with others on board, as well as

with scientists, services and devices in the cloud or on

shoreside networks. 21st century oceanographic science and

vessel operations require mission-critical

cyberinfrastructure to meet operational objectives and enable

scientific innovation in seagoing research.

Additionally, as U.S. strategic assets increasingly become

targets for cyberattacks (including the ARF), robust cyber-

infrastructure is critical. The sensitive research conducted

on these ships ensures the nation remains a world leader in

innovation and national security, and foreign competitors,

such as China, are seeking opportunities to acquire it via

offensive cyber operations.

Our analysis indicates that ARF funding must be increased

$53M annually (roughly 50% over existing levels) to support

capabilities required for robust, performant and secure

networking. Our assessment is rooted in findings by the JASON

advisory group study (2021), which was commissioned by NSF to

evaluate and make recommendations regarding the ability of

NSF's major facilities to provide high-quality data to the

research community while mitigating cybersecurity threats.

The ARF is unique among large facilities because of its

geographical diversity, mobility, global reach, and

distributed administration. These factors all contribute to

the scope of resources required to meet research needs.

Sincerely,

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences

College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences/Oregon

State University

College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences/University of

Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University

Large Lakes Observatory, University of Minnesota Duluth

Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium

Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth

Science/University of Miami

School of Ocean, Earth, Science and Technology/University

of Hawai'i

Scripps Institution of Oceanography/UC San Diego

University of Rhode Island--Graduate School of Oceanography

University of Washington--School of Oceanography

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Mr. Fong and Ms. Stevens for their leadership on this bill. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1223, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be here to support H.R. 1223, the ANCHOR Act, sponsored by my colleagues, Representatives Fong and Stevens.

The ANCHOR Act tackles the critical need for improved cybersecurity across the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. This fleet of 17 vessels carries out vital research in diverse marine environments, from the Great Lakes to the polar regions.

The groundbreaking research conducted aboard these vessels has largely shaped our understanding of the ocean. Scientists study ecosystems and food webs, offshore energy resources, wave dynamics, natural hazard forecasting and response, and the deep ocean floor.

These scientists and technical experts operate a wide range of specialized equipment, including deep-towing systems, underwater cameras, and state-of-the-art acoustic sensors, often sailing to some of the world's most remote locations.

Ensuring secure and reliable communication and data transmission systems, regardless of location, presents a unique challenge. Each vessel needs tailored cybersecurity infrastructure to safeguard its scientific equipment and protect data, both on board and during transmission to shore.

Unfortunately, the fleet currently lacks the necessary infrastructure. This bill would change that. The ANCHOR Act directs the National Science Foundation to develop a plan for much-needed upgrades to the Academic Research Fleet, including cybersecurity enhancements and modernization of telecommunications equipment.

This plan must consider the type of research conducted on each vessel, the location, any specialized equipment, and network bandwidth needs. It is essential to protect taxpayer-funded research conducted by the fleet from nefarious actors.

We have made significant strides securing research at our agencies and university campuses. Now we must ensure the research being done off of our coasts is fully protected.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleagues for their efforts on this issue, and I urge my fellow Members to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

The U.S. Academic Research Fleet enables us to use state-of-the-art equipment worldwide to conduct cutting-edge science that cannot be performed on land. This fleet is a key factor in making the U.S. research enterprise a global leader.

However, our leadership is currently at risk, as it is widely recognized that our adversaries are willing to compromise, undermine, or steal our research. They aim to exploit our discoveries and surpass us as leaders in global technology. We cannot afford to let that happen.

To continue making groundbreaking discoveries, we must equip our research vessels with the cybersecurity infrastructure necessary to maintain the integrity of their data and equipment.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1223) to require a plan to improve the cybersecurity and telecommunications of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1223, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 1223, the Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research Act, also known as the ANCHOR Act.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill because it addresses a critical and urgent need: safeguarding the integrity of our Nation's academic research fleet and ensuring that the valuable data collected at sea remains secure from emerging threats. This is about protecting the future of American science, innovation, and national security.

Our research fleet is a cornerstone of America's scientific advancement. Since the 1960s, these vessels have supported federally sponsored missions that impact everything from human health and energy development to ocean hazards and national security. They are laboratories at sea, collecting data that fuels critical decisionmaking here on land.

However, these ships face modern challenges. Right now, they lack the secure cyberinfrastructure needed to protect sensitive data and communicate reliably across global networks. That leaves them vulnerable to cyber threats from foreign adversaries, which have been on the rise and will continue to evolve with emerging technology.

Data is the heartbeat of scientific progress. It informs policy. It drives discovery. It strengthens our ability to respond to crises. We need it to compete and win on the world stage. We must ensure that this data is protected, that our researchers have the tools they need, and that the outcomes of their work remain in secure hands.

The ANCHOR Act directs the National Science Foundation to create a comprehensive plan to upgrade the cybersecurity and communication systems on these vessels to add another layer of protection where it is desperately needed.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my cosponsor, Representative Haley Stevens, for supporting our bipartisan effort to protect our Nation's scientific edge and security.

Today, let's take a critical step to safeguard our research fleet, protect our data, and secure the future of American innovation by voting in support of the ANCHOR Act.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), the chair of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin) control the remainder of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1223, the Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Oceanic Research Act, or ANCHOR Act. I would like to thank my colleague, Representative Vince Fong (R-CA), for working with me to advance this bipartisan legislation. I would also like to thank Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) for taking up this important legislation in the Senate.

The Blue Heron, a research vessel operated by the University of Minnesota Duluth, is the only U.S. Academic Research Fleet vessel operating in the Great Lakes. It provides critical research that informs science-based decisions to protect Michigan's gift to the country, our Great Lakes. These vessels represent a global network of essential research platforms that advance our understanding of the world's marine and freshwater ecosystems. It is paramount for Michiganders that the Blue Heron and the entire fleet have the resources they need to operate safely, securely. and effectively for years to come.

However, just like every part of our modern economy, these vessels are increasingly vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. For the past several years, the National Science Foundation has taken steps to harden terrestrial research infrastructure, especially after major telescopes were disabled for weeks in 2023 due to a cyber incident. It is vital that NSF also hardens the cyberinfrastructure capabilities of the Blue Heron, and the entire Academic Research Fleet.

This common-sense, bipartisan, bicameral legislation is designed to support the efforts of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet to advance their cyberinfrastructure and networks to ensure they are protected and able to continue to do their important work. The ANCHOR Act directs the National Science Foundation to develop a plan to modernize the Academic Research Fleet's information technology, including its cybersecurity practices, to carry out the fleet's mission to deliver critical science that protects Michigan's Great Lakes.

I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill to secure and modernize the IT systems used by our academic research fleet.

Mr. Speaker, I was necessarily absent and missed three votes on the House Floor during the 1:30 p.m. series today. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 134, NAY on Roll Call No. 135, and YEA on Roll Call No. 136.